The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-04-14

/ Will De very SIM lnueeu. almost feel
Inclined to will you to fall in love, in
spite of yourself
''Why, 1 do fall in love, DEAR" plead
ed Nelly, "but something always chang
eS my mind. As say, it is becoming
positive labor to consider the matter
so closely, day after day. 1t is like
skating-love is charming, but requires
constant attention, or one ends COM
plete wreck somewhere under the ice.
There's the hall bell now. 1 wonder if
it is any one for me-
If it is" replied Felina, .slet me
| wait here for You, Nelly, l would
rather go on with my embroidery than
sit by while they talk to you"
alt Is some oLe l have not told YOU
about, said Nelly, moment airer,
looking up from the card; .'he has such
a queer name, hasn't he? Anthony
Cowl. 1t is quite new experience TO
| be admired by man of such name
and with character which we'll coin
cides with it Excuse me, Felina dear;
and wouldn't it be funny if | came
! back engaged?" The Cameleon en-
/ braced and kissed her friend with gen
| uine fervor aud arranged her lovely
| hair al the mirror, and then swept out
| OF the room. She stood at the head of
| the stairs for a bTeath's space, and
! then returned to her parlor and put
! her lips near Felina' ear, whispering:
| If Mr.. Cowl tUOuid only prove ire
| sistible"
| As Felina sewed she often smiled.
1t was amusing to her to guess, every
few minutes, how the courtship was
| progressing; how the suitOr with the
! odd name was becoming elated and
how the rare young tiirt upon whom
he gazed was inyoluntarily bringing
him to the denOuement which had
proved so fatal to dozen other men,
rs if the girls heart were Swiss ma
chinery which could only accomplish
one thing, although it seemed so hu-
man. And Felina also gave smile to
the reflection that the Cameleon Aer-
self was acting in perfectly good faith.
and was most eager to discover a gen
uine interest in one of these admirers:
but her good sense and her unlimited
opportunities stood much in the way of
final decision.
Il really don't know what to saw
the Cameleon hesitatingly confessed to
Mr.. Anthony Cowl. looking down at
her lapful of black lace, as she locked
her fingers together. 81 do like YOU
SO much; and | think your mother is
perfectly sweet. But | suppose | am
awfully young to choose what my des-
tiny shall be; and perhaps you are
little old to be my destiny; and then, !
never expected TO be Mrs. 'Cowl.' 1t |
would seem so strange!" The Came
leon had mental vision in which peo-
pie talked about 1.-The beautiful Mrs.
Cowl."
''Seems to me-" said her lover with
glistening eyes and flushed cheeks,
glad enough to find himself in the girls |
presence again after ii miserable alb
sence, ''seems to me it is pity to put |
me OFF because my name is Cowl, and |
have five years more in my existence |
than l exactly require. Life is short,
at any rate, and happiness in never at
its climax for very long space, no |
matter what our fortune is. Perhaps |
if You married me Your happiness
would be as complete for as lo&g sea-
son as if you married young fellow |
nearer your own age. And as for |
name you might find people paid
good deal of respect to it when coupled |
with fine dinners and box at the |
opera.
The Cameleon looked up at him
somewhat furtively, but he caught her
glance as he deyoured every motion
she made, He became eagerly expect
ant.
Il was thinking, to tell the TRUTH
said She, ''that You kept your temper
wonderfully under severe test; for
people usually adore their own names.
| am sure 1 an much obliged to you
tor bearing with my whims, Mr.. Cowl" "
'.Don't-don't be so gentle and en-
couraging," he exclaimed, ''unless you
will let HE kiss your hand!'
Again she gazed at him from under
her lashes, while her lover was on the
alert To spring to his feet and Eneel at
her side il he saw a permission in her
face,
May may l kiss your hand?' he
asked, with trembling lips.
''l-was just thinking how very
very considerate you are of my Wishes"
she nurmured, but shaking her head.
Il do think Your mother is so sweet,
ili. SOhl, lIIClCN aul1N |
and then explained, with a burst OF
confidence: You know what lady
would not liker' In moment she
went on: Ibid, you ever do anything
which people told You was remarkably
noble?"
NO, indeed. Why?"
Again Nelly treated Anthony Cowl
to a searching but subtle glance.
YOU'RE the first man | ever met
who failed to tell me so. she said,
smiling. "But wouldn't YOU make
great sacrifice for me?"
Il hardly believe would" answer
ed her admirer. "A sacrifice would
necessitate my being wholly absent
from you, or something of the sort, to
strike death-blow to my happiness in
you. l should be fool to make any
sacrifice for you worthy of the name
The Cameleon laughed outright.
''You seem willing to be quite hon
est" she commented. but, Mr.. Cowl,
aren't YOU afraid to become engaged
to me. even if | am to be persuaded,
considering that have changed my
mind very often already, so that they
actually call me II Camelpona | was
talking about it with your mother the
last time | called, and she said that
would probably go on changing my
mind until | was 20 unless something
very extraordinary happened, just as Il
brook runs ever SO irregularly down a
mountain-side until it reaches a great
lssure which hens it firmly in
Well, l shall be satisfied if you be-
come engaged to me-" Anthony Cowl
replied. Il can't ask you to marry
ME first, you know, and have the en-
gagement afterwarl, although l might
prefer it. 1t is just possible you might
really marry me, after ALL"
Il suppose | am very ambitious"
Nelly remarked. 81 suppose | have
such sense of my own importance
that think only of myself and believe
that nothing is good enough for me-"
Il certainly don't feel good enough
for you." COwl declared, with little
Si uh .GRut I don't nav sO n,uch Of